International architects to design LEGO experience centre in Denmark

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Denmark’s Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA) of America will team up with the LEGO Group to design the physical home for “The LEGO House” in Billund, Denmark.

The name has been decided for the LEGO experience centre due to be built in Billund, Denmark. Scheduled to open in 2016, the facility will welcome approx. 250,000 annual visitors and will be called: The LEGO House. Construction of The LEGO House in the centre of Billund is expected to start in 2014.

”The LEGO House will be a place where people can enjoy active fun but at the same time it will be an educational and inspirational experience – everything that LEGO play offers. The experience centre will give us the opportunity to show how children learn through LEGO play. We’ll be able to combine academic knowledge about the developmental aspects of play with the brick itself – enabling children and their parents to see and feel what LEGO play offers. And woven into the situation we’ll be able to relate the story of our company in a dedicated way, reflecting our values,” says LEGO owner Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen.
Two architectural practices have been chosen to design The LEGO House: one is a Danish company, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the other an American, Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA).

“In our competitions for the project these two companies had the best understanding of the idea behind the LEGO® brick, LEGO play and LEGO values. At the same time they possess a wealth of experience in architecture and museum design, and I’m looking forward to our companies’ teaming up to produce outstanding settings and exciting experiences for future visitors to The LEGO House,” says Hans Peter Folmann, Senior Director, LEGO Huset.

RAA is acclaimed for its work around the world on large-scale educational experiences, including US FIRST (home of Junior FIRST LEGO LEAGUE), the London Transport Museum and the Museum of Jewish History and Tolerance Center in Moscow.

"We are thrilled to be part of creating the LEGO house that will be devoted to the builders of tomorrow. Playing, learning and creating with LEGO Group's international team of architects, thinkers and builders is a cherished commission for any designer," says Ralph Appelbaum.

Danish architect company BIG is among other projects known for the Danish Expo Pavilion 2010, the West57th Street courtscraper currently under construction in New York, and the soon to be opened Maritime Museum north of Copenhagen.

“It is one of our great dreams at BIG that we are now able to design a building for and with the LEGO Group. I owe a huge personal debt to the LEGO brick, and I can see in my nephews that its role in developing the child as a creative, thinking, imaginative human being becomes ever stronger in a world in which creativity and innovation are key elements in virtually all aspects of society,” says Bjarke Ingels, founder and partner, BIG.

About The LEGO House• Construction of The LEGO House is scheduled to start in 2014, with completion in 2016.
• It is expected that about 250,000 people a year will visit The LEGO House.
• Part of The LEGO House will be open to the general public free of charge.
• Admission charges will apply to other parts of The LEGO House. It will be a place where people can enjoy active fun but at the same time it will be an educational and inspirational experience – everything that LEGO play has to offer.
• The LEGO House is a project shared by KIRKBI A/S, The LEGO Foundation, and the LEGO Group – with the latter having responsibility for day to day management of the finished building.
• Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA) will design and do the interior planning of The LEGO House.
• COWI, the Danish engineering company, will act as consulting engineers on The LEGO House project.